Former Northern Ireland Health Minister admits inadequate preparation for pandemic surge.

Former Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann admitted to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that he did not provide sufficient direction in preparing for a surge in critical cases during the pandemic's early stages. In 2020, Northern Ireland faced potential daily hospital admissions of up to 4,000, which made the pandemic threat "real." Swann acknowledged that the surge plans were not adequate and that he should have insisted on a critical care scaling plan. He also noted that the region's health service was already strained, leading to greater disruptions compared to the rest of the UK.

November 18, 2024
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